A major boost for women's Gaelic football was announced yesterday when the Bank of Ireland stepped in with substantial sponsorship for the game. The bank will invest £1 million in television and poster advertising for both the women's and men's game for the coming championships. In addition, live television coverage of the women's final on RTE has been agreed.

Sponsorship of a video and coaching manual has also been launched. The announcement of the sponsorship was made in the Bank of Ireland offices in College Green, Dublin, by the general manager of the bank, John Collins, who welcomed the new commitment to women's football and the continuation of their association with the promotion and support of the men's game.

He also announced that the bank will again organise the open-air concert, dubbed `The Final Fling', in College Green on the eve of the All-Ireland football final. It attracted a crowd of 20,000 last year. The women's championship has been gaining wider support in recent years and a crowd of 15,000 attended last year's final between Monaghan and Waterford in Croke Park. There are more than 600 clubs involved and a registered membership of some 38,000 players. In all, it is estimated that, with under-age players taken into account, as many as 70,000 women and girls now play the game.

Speaking at the launch, Collins said the bank was "delighted with the opportunity to sponsor the Ladies Football Championship and to become partners with them in developing and promoting the games in the years ahead."

The president of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, Noel Murray, said the the bank's sponsorship was "a huge boost for our association as we enter our 25th championship season. The fact that we have the same sponsor as the men's championship is telling the country that we have a great game."

GAA president Joe McDonagh said that the new advertising and promotional campaign would go a long way to ensuring that the national games remained at the forefront of people's minds.

The Minister for Sport, Dr Jim McDaid, also welcomed "the increased recognition of the role of women in sport as a whole. In supporting the women's game the bank has backed a real winner", he said.